.
Iglesia ni Cristo
Convert Stories, Converts, Conversion
from Australia
- Oceania"
How and why people from different religions in
Australia, New Zealand
and Oceania
converted to the
Iglesia ni Cristo..

The following
are inspiring stories of Iglesia ni Cristo converts from
around the world. Many of these true to life
stories are from many years back but their stories are still
relevant, most particularly, to those who are presently studying the
Iglesia ni Cristo. We hope that by reading
their stories people may come to understand
the workings on "how
God calls people", that is, how God move, draw and
give people the desire to study His words written in the Holy
Bible; and that by these convert stories other people may also be inspired to continue their search for the true Church
of Christ.

Former Religion: From
childhood, I was a worshipper and member of the Anglican
Church in Australia. The breakdown of my marriage after 17
years and subsequent divorce brought a crisis in my life―not a weakening of
love for God and our Lord Jesus Christ, but a loss of faith in my
church and its attitudes. I then proceeded on the path
of searching for a church wherein I could find the true faith.
Along the way, I met many good souls, each trying their best
to live a life acceptable to God, but still I felt I was travelling
in wilderness. . . . . As the discord between churches grew and as I
witnessed doctrines and policies being bent to serve people rather than God, I felt
even more disheartened. By 1983, I had all but abandoned my search.
Iglesia ni Cristo:
It was then that I met Brother Elmer Cacha at my place of work, and
first heard of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ).
I resisted the idea of a church from a foreign land, whose origin
lies in a culture quite different from my own
Anglo-Australian background. . . . For 9 years, I regularly read the God's Message
magazine, often deeply moved by the stories of conversion, the
poetry, the theological discussions, and the doctrinal articles. . .
. . I think I always knew the day
would come despite my reluctance, when God would require
me to overcome my personal reservation and fully submit myself
to His will. . . . I attended a Bible exposition . . . . I found myself swept into
atmosphere of faith and brotherly caring. That
night at home as I opened the Bible to find my daily reading,
my eyes fell upon the book of Hebrews 10:38-39. . . . . . .
Amazed, I realized at that moment, God was
telling me that my prayers of so many years―asking
for the right road to travel, was now answered, and I must not
be among those who shrink back. Convert Story-24
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"I found the
way to eternal life"

Chieko Matsushita Manuel

Auckland, New
Zealand - Japan

Shintoism and
Budhism

Former
Religion:
BORN AND RAISED a Shinto and a
Buddhist which are the predominant religions in Japan, my faith and
beliefs are a mixture of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Our
beliefs were based on the teachings of our ancestors which my parent
learned from their parents and passed on to us. I haven’t tried to
read the books of my former religion which were written in classical
languages. At school, we just learned historical things and
morality. Typical Japanese don’t think about religion. We just
followed customs and traditions handed down from generation to
generation. For instance, I asked all I needed from our ancestors
and from Shinto gods. I said ‘gods’ because we have plenty of gods
corresponding to the sun, mountains, trees, land, etc.

Iglesia
ni Cristo:

In 1991, I worked in Hyatt Regency Hotel
in Auckland,
New Zealand
as a Japanese interpreter. There, I met Roberto Manuel—a Chef de
Cuisine in the same Hotel. I learned that he is a member of the
Church
of Christ or the Iglesia ni
Cristo in Auckland,
New Zealand.
He introduced to me to this Church. I became curious about the nature
of God and Jesus Christ. . . . . When my visa expired I was obliged to
return to my hometown in Japan.
. . . I
returned to Auckland in
September 1994. . . . I started attending Bible study on doctrines with Brother Nolly. During the Bible study sessions, I had so many questions but
brother Nolly answered them clearly by reading verses from the
Bible. I was enlightened that there is but one true God—the
Father—and the Jesus Christ is a man and not God. I saw proof that
the Church of
Christ which reemerged in the
Philippines in 1914 is the
fulfillment of the prophecies in the Bible. This was realized
through Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the messenger of God in these last
days.

. . .

Every time I attended worship services, I
became more interested in listening to the teachings upheld by the
Iglesia ni Cristo. I felt something inmy heart which strengthened my faith in
God.Convert Story-31
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"My true wealth"

Gary Haack

Brisbane, Australia

Anglican

Former
Religion:
During my early days of schooling, I
would attend religious instruction classes conducted by the minister
of the local Anglican Church with which my family was affiliated.
. . . . The teachings I heard seemed to make
sense back then. But, what bothered me was the fact that the
members, including the minister, were teaching one thing but were
doing another! . . . . Therefore, it was
difficult for me to take religion seriously, let alone become a
major part of my life.
. . .
All throughout the period of my
schooling and even when I joined the workforce, I wondered if there
was a God, though, I had always imagined a being superior than man.

. . .

I continued to observe and listen to
other religious organizations, but none of them seemed to adhere to
the teachings written in the Holy Bible.

Iglesia ni Cristo:

One day, I was invited to attend a
gathering of the Iglesia ni Cristo or the Church of
Christ.
We listened to a tape-recorded sermon because at that time, Brisbane was only a committee prayer group.
The supervising minister then, Brother Romeo Maglaya, visited the
group monthly. I met Brother Romeo and heard him preach the words of
God. His conviction in the teachings he was preaching and his
sincerity touched me. I needed to hear more of the words of God. I
searched for reasons to doubt the Church’s doctrines, but I could
not find any. I have found the true Church. I have found fellowship
with God. Convert Story-32
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here to read full story

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Note: This section is under construction. More
Inspiring Covert Story will be added from time to time.